Bongi Ka Dube
The Gert Sibande District Municipality led by the Executive Mayor Cllr Walter Mngomezulu is making significant strides in constructing the Gabosch Dam, located approximately 5km north of Amsterdam in Ward 5 and 19 of Mkhondo Local Municipality. This vital infrastructure project, with an estimated cost of R450 million, commenced in mid-2023 and is slated for completion in 2026. Once finished, the dam will boast storage capacity of 1.1 million cubic metres, featuring a concrete spillway approximately 25 metres high and a rockfill embarkment reaching about 28 metres.
Notably, the Gert Sibande District Municipality is on of the very few municipalities in the country to undertake such a major water infrastructure project, demonstrating its capacity and commitment to long term water security and sustainable development. The project is funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation and is already making positive impact as 66 jobs have been created to date and 19 SMME’s have benefitted from this initiative.
Over the years, the capacity of existing water sources has significantly decreased due to rising demand from growing population. This led to the need for the construction of the Gabosch Dam, which will provide a sustainable water supply for over 50 years. 19837 households from Amsterdam, Mvelo, KwaThandeka and surrounding areas will benefit, and the project has put into consideration population growth.
